Geomagnetic Storm Disrupts Power Grids and Satellite Communications Across Northern Hemisphere
OAKLAND, California (Reuters) — A powerful geomagnetic storm, triggered by a coronal mass ejection from the sun, struck Earth on Tuesday, causing significant disruptions to power grids and satellite communications across the Northern Hemisphere.
The event, rated as a G4 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s five-point geomagnetic storm scale, was first detected by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at approximately 2:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
According to NOAA, the storm impacted electrical systems from Canada to the United Kingdom, leading to voltage irregularities on transmission lines and temporary outages for some high-frequency radio and GPS operations. Emergency management agencies reported no immediate injuries.
The anomaly resulted from a series of solar flares that erupted from sunspot region AR 13214 over the weekend. Forecasters predict the storm will continue overnight, with potential for widespread aurora borealis displays as far south as Oklahoma.
SpaceX confirmed a pause in satellite deployments from its Cape Canaveral facility, citing operational safety concerns. Aviation authorities in Scandinavia advised flights at high latitudes to reroute to avoid communication blackouts.
“This is a significant space weather event with measurable effects on critical infrastructure,” said Dr. Alexandra Chen, lead forecaster at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, in a formal statement. “We urge all operators of sensitive equipment to implement standard mitigation protocols.”
The geomagnetic storm is expected to subside by Thursday morning, though residual effects on power grids may persist for 48 hours, according to official projections.